Please can I have your chicken pox stories

[chickendelapox]

So after being on spot watch for what seems like forever, DS finally has the Chicken Pox. I have been dreading this, we've managed to avoid it for the past few Springs but they are most definitely here now!

He is four, It's day two. They are everywhere, but DS is happy enough just quiet and tired.

Please can I have some Chicken Pox timeline stories? How long did the pox last? Which day was the worst? When will we be freeee?!

DS2 (17 months) just at the scabby end of his pox.

Day 1 was Saturday, first spots appeared. Day 2, loads more spots, very restless, no appetite, didn’t sleep a wink at night. Very uncomfortable and itchy.
Day 3, more spots to the point he was covered, especially in his nappy area, very sleepy, no appetite. Clingy, swollen eyes.
Day 4, no new spots but still sleepy and no appetite.
Day 5, same again, less sleepy and bigger appetite. No new spots appearing and starting to crust over.
Day 6 - today - spots fully crusted, appetite is bag, not so sleepy.
He’s been very clingy throughout, fever from day 1-4.
I found a bath with oats really helped, also nappy off as much as possible, I dressed him in his big brother’s T-shirts which were huge on him but it helped to not have tight clothes touching the spots. Ice lollies for his sore mouth, poxclin mousse, antihistamine liquid from boots and eurax cream did him the world of good.
We spent every day cuddled up, he didn’t move much other than to play outside for maybe 5 minutes a day until yesterday when he bounced back so I’m hoping he will be even better again by tomorrow.

We've just had one after the other! It was not that bad. Lots of spots. One unsettled night each. Lots of Calpol and piriteze. Virasoothe spray is amazing!

DS has had it twice.

Once mildly at 18m, and once again at just before 3 when almost all of his pre-school class got it.

Spots lasted 5-6 days and were a bit itchy but DS was good about not scratching. Gave him a bath with oaty soap every night...think the brand isn’t Aveeno. A few of the spots have scarred where he scratched. luckily mainly on his back.
One big one on his neck which I feel guilty about as I accidentally scrubbed it with a towel so that’s probably why it scarred :(

Still very spotty, think we've had two main crops but I've just noticed some more popping up on DS's feet and ankles. The first lot are no longer fluid filled and appear to be scabbing over.

Feeling very guilty about all the TV and iPad time (and phone time for me!) but DS doesn't seem to have the energy for much else.

Almost every other developed nation with a broad childhood vaccination programme protect their children against chicken pox. The idea that British parents wait in dread for this completely avoidable and potentially life threatening illness to take hold is crazy. Even with mild cases, children will have to take time off school, parents may have to take time off work and the potential for disruption if there are activities or holidays planned is unnecessary. Every individual case is different and the vaccine may not be appropriate for everyone but for those that can, there should be more awareness that a vaccine is available so parents who can afford it can make a choice.

Hope everyone's LOs recover quickly!

Dd (at just under 2) was back to normal and all scabbed over within a week. Oat baths and poxclin really helped.

Ds then came out with it 2 weeks later at just 11 weeks old, ended up very poorly in hospital with pneumonia as a complication and 5 years later still has health issues as a consequence.

The sooner the vaccine is routine, the better. They were piloting it in our area around 3-4 years ago so hopefully that’s a sign they may well introduce it soon.